What happened: LeBron James is invoking the 76ers' old rebuilding catchphrase, "Trust the Process," after his move to Philadelphia, and Joel Embiid responded with a jab of his own. Embiid wrote that the Lakers will "forever" belong to Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, telling James to "find a new slant." The exchange follows James's own explanation of the Sixers move, a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option.

Why it matters: The public back-and-forth underscores the awkward transition for James, who spent more than a decade as the face of the Lakers before signing with Philadelphia. Embiid, the longtime centerpiece of the Sixers' actual rebuild, is now James's teammate after years as a rival. The moment adds a layer of friction to a locker room already adjusting to two max-caliber stars sharing one roster.

What to watch: Watch for how James and Embiid mesh once the Sixers open 2026-27 training camp.